TIF Funds Approved For Miners Theatre Renovations

By Stephanie Malench

smalench@timestribunenews.com

The Collinsville City Council met on August 10 and held a lengthy discussion on replacing the city’s inadequate security camera system after police officer Jeni Kyrouac was recognized on her retirement after 21 years of service. Kyouac will now serve as a truancy officer for Unit 10 schools.

IT Director Sean Seckler reported that the current cameras are eight years old and the hardware can no longer be updated. The images are low quality and have failed to produce adequate images of vehicle license plates to prosecute in recent property damage cases on city property.

The new system would cost $600,000 to replace every camera that is already in place city-wide, including the servers and licensing that go with the cameras. The project would be eligible for some of the $3.3 million American Rescue Plan Act funding the city will receive. Avigilon would be the new vendor and does not charge maintenance fees. The technology is Motorola, which is the same as the police department’s fleet and body cameras provided by Watch Guard.

City Manager Mitch Bair announced that 11 businesses received $194,079 from the city by the end of June as part of the Business Relief Program that was handed down from the federal government. The maximum any business received was $25,000.

An ordinance was approved authorizing TIF Uptown funds in the amount of $5,658 to the Miners Institute Foundation for electrical upgrades, emergency lighting and signage and architectural lighting. The emergency lights and sign upgrades are required for permits per code to hold small scale events at the historic Miners Theatre at 204 W. Main St. The money will be distributed as a lump sum reimbursement.

The next ordinance passed for the evening authorized Mayor John Miller to sign purchase contracts with Madison County totaling $4,785 for 6 parcels of vacant land in the city that used to be nuisance properties and were claimed by the county for nonpayment of taxes. The city can then bid out the properties for private development or donate the parcels to the Collinsville Area Vocational program to build houses.

The county does not maintain the properties and the city still has to mow the lots. The purchases also allows the city to control how the properties are zoned for development.

The final ordinance of the evening authorizes Miller to sign an agreement with SSM Medical Group for $24,000 to provide Fire Department medical evaluations for one year. The city can then extend the contract for two more two year terms for a total of $104,000.

The next meeting will be held on August 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.